# Maryland HB 0045: Labor and Employment - Mandatory Meetings on Religious or Political Matters - Employee Attendance and Participation (Maryland Worker Freedom Act)

Maryland HB 0045, Labor and Employment - Mandatory Meetings on Religious or Political Matters - Employee Attendance and Participation (Maryland Worker Freedom Act), is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Joe Vogel (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-04-07 (Referred Rules) (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0045-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland HB 0045
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Labor and Employment - Mandatory Meetings on Religious or Political Matters - Employee Attendance and Participation (Maryland Worker Freedom Act)
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-07-11
- Last action: 2026-04-07, Referred Rules
- Sponsor: Joe Vogel (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Private Sector Labor and Industry, Communications -see also- ElecComm; Intergov; etc., Complaints, Elections, Investigations and Inquiries -see also- Crim Bckgrnd Invest, Meetings -see also- Hearings; Open Government, Notices, Penalties and Sentences -see also- Death Penalty, Petitions, Political Parties, Public Information, Religion -see also- Places of Worship, Salaries and Compensation -see also- Overtime; Reimb. Rates, Work, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc.
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 8 (299 yes, 645 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Joe Vogel (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-06 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 97 | 35 | 4 |
| 2026-04-03 | House | Floor Amendment {673026/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected | fail | 35 | 89 | 8 |
| 2026-04-03 | House | Floor Amendment {823324/1 (Delegate Miller) Rejected | fail | 26 | 83 | 23 |
| 2026-04-03 | House | Floor Amendment {663227/1 (Delegate Miller) Rejected | fail | 23 | 90 | 19 |
| 2026-04-03 | House | Floor Amendment {573422/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected | fail | 33 | 85 | 14 |
| 2026-04-03 | House | Floor Amendment {323629/1 (Delegate Miller) Rejected | fail | 28 | 88 | 15 |
| 2026-04-03 | House | Floor Amendment {343827/1 (Delegate Miller) Rejected | fail | 29 | 88 | 14 |
| 2026-04-03 | House | Floor Amendment {783920/1 (Delegate Miller) Rejected | fail | 28 | 87 | 16 |

## Actions (16)

- 2026-04-07: Referred Rules (Senate)
- 2026-04-06: Third Reading Passed (97-35) (House)
- 2026-04-03: Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-03: Floor Amendment {343827/1 (Delegate Miller) Rejected (29-88) (House)
- 2026-04-03: Floor Amendment {323629/1 (Delegate Miller) Rejected (28-88) (House)
- 2026-04-03: Floor Amendment {783920/1 (Delegate Miller) Rejected (28-87) (House)
- 2026-04-03: Floor Amendment {663227/1 (Delegate Miller) Rejected (23-90) (House)
- 2026-04-03: Floor Amendment {823324/1 (Delegate Miller) Rejected (26-83) (House)
- 2026-04-03: Floor Amendment {573422/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (33-85) (House)
- 2026-04-03: Floor Amendment {673026/1 (Delegate Buckel) Rejected (35-89) (House)
- 2026-04-02: Motion Special Order until 04/03 (Delegate Buckel) Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-02: Favorable Adopted (House)
- 2026-04-02: Favorable Report by Government, Labor, and Elections (House)
- 2026-02-09: Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m. (House)
- 2026-01-14: First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections (House)
- 2025-07-11: Pre-filed (House)

## Bill text

- Third Reading, 2026-04-03: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0045t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0045f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0045t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/hb/hb0045f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0045-2026RS (as of 2026-10-16).